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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1762
In the northern part of Millsburg, the headquarters of the Hero Alliance stood prominently. This alliance consisted of affluent and profligate young noble scions from West Lucozia who had come together. Their interactions were characterized by shared interests. In times of trouble, they offered mutual assistance. They possessed considerable influence that deterred most from challenging them. In their social circle, their call resonated with a resounding response.Within the assembly hall of the Hero Alliance, a group of extravagant profligates embraced their companions. They were immersed in a combination of drinks and dance. Various tables were adorned with unmentionable substances.As the festivities continued, some of them even leaned down, inhaling the mysterious white powder on the tables. Their bodies trembled instantly. Their pupils dilated. Their faces were filled with ecstasy as their mouths adorned with foolish smiles. It was as though they had entered a hallucinatory rea
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1763
With severed hands and feet, a face marred by glass shards, and blood flowing freely, Russo looked downright miserable."Mr. Linden! This matter is complicated. You must take this guy down right away!" Russo yelled."Release Mr. Vern, or I'll blow you to bits!" warned Aster with a fierce edge to his voice."Where's Lisa?" Dustin spoke coldly.His expression remained unchanged."Who the heck is Lisa? I've never heard of her. I command you to release him, or I'll spray you!" Aster pressed back on the gun, the bullets loading with a metallic click."Mr. Linden! This thing has serious firepower. Be careful not to hit me accidentally." Russo's eyes widened in fear.It was a shotgun, commonly known as a "sprayer" or the great equalizer. One shot unleashed hundreds of steel balls with immense power and caused wide-ranging destruction. If Aster fired, there was a high chance of collateral damage."Mr. Vern, rest assured. My marksmanship is precise. I guarantee you won't get hurt."
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1764
In that critical moment, Dustin assumed the role of an untouchable otherworldly being. Despite the relentless firing and assaults from the profligates, not a single scratch landed on him. The two sides seemed to exist in different worlds as though they were separated by an insurmountable chasm."What in the world?" The profligates gazed at the strewn shell casings and the seemingly unaffected Dustin. They stood frozen with their faces etched with disbelief. They held their firearms, struck dumb in amazement. They had never imagined such a spectacle.Even an elephant would be turned into a hornet's nest with their firepower. They wondered how Dustin was left completely unscathed."What ... What's happening? What's that force shield?""Good grief! He can even evade bullets. Is this guy a human or a ghost?" The profligates were in a state of panic and fear. Some were trembling so violently that their guns dropped to the ground. While they had encountered numerous martial artis
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1765
As soon as he stepped inside the basement, Dustin’s face went cold. There were dozens of iron cages scattered throughout the basement, each holding one or two teenage girls. The girls, all stripped to the waist, wore expressions of pure terror. Most of them were covered in bruises, cuts, and other signs of abuse. It was a pitiful sight to behold. Two of the cages held the bodies of two young girls. They were curled in a fetal position. Their stench wafted through the air. They were left alone for too long, and their bodies had already become food for vicious rats.The sight ignited a surge of anger within Dustin. "Are you responsible for bringing all these people here?" His gaze turned sharply toward Russo."No ... I swear it's not me," Russo stammered, gesturing frantically. He explained, "Aster is the one behind this. He has a twisted obsession, deriving pleasure from tormenting these girls. Every month, he captures one or two slaves and locks them in the basement. It jus
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1766
Dustin walked out angrily as he emerged from the underground chamber. He noticed that the profligates in the meeting hall were sprawled on the floor, writhing in agony.Meanwhile, Grace stood silently near the entrance. "These guys never learn. They were just about to ambush me, so I gave them a little lesson," she said."Too lenient," he remarked, scanning the room. All the profligates had only lost a leg. It was a trivial consequence compared to the atrocities they committed."How about Lisa? Have you found her?" she asked."I found her in the basement. But she's not alone. There are dozens of innocent girls," he responded with a grim expression."Huh? What's going on?" Grace asked, puzzled."You'll know when you see it for yourself," Dustin replied without further explanation.Grace nodded and headed into the basement.Dustin then pulled out his phone and dialed a number. After a moment, Rodrigo entered with several female undercover agents, each carrying two suitcases.
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1767
Dustin's voice rang out, filled with an unyielding determination, "Bring out the leaders, Aster and Russo. The rest can be killed.""Understood," Rodrigo responded promptly.His blade rose to cleanse the room of its corrupt occupants.Chaos erupted in the meeting hall. Cries, pleas, and threats filled the air as the entitled profligates faced their impending demise."Please, spare my life! I'm wealthy, incredibly wealthy! Name your price, and I'll pay whatever you want!""You punk! My dad is a deputy general with a vast army. If you harm me, he'll shred you into pieces!""Good sir, spare my life! It's a mistake. As long as you let me go today, I promise unimaginable wealth and prosperity!"Faced with the imminent threat of life and death, the once arrogant profligates now wore expressions of fear and panic. At that moment, their former audacity had been completely stripped away.However, Dustin remained unmoved. He observed silently.Rodrigo and the undercover agents showed no
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1768
Dustin closed the door quietly, allowing Lucas and Lisa the time and space they needed for their heartfelt reunion. For most people, the aftermath of such an experience would take a considerable amount of time to erase the haunting memories."Logan, what are your thoughts on what happened today?" Grace asked, breaking the silence as she studied the man beside her."I'd eradicate every last scum like them if I could." His tone held an icy determination.She said solemnly, "West Lucozia is larger than Oakvale. What occurred today is likely not an isolated incident. In places beyond our view, there may be more people suffering oppression and hardship."She went on, "With your current abilities, you can save one or two, maybe even ten or a hundred. But you can't save thousands or tens of thousands.""What do you mean?" Dustin raised an eyebrow."I know you don't like authority and that you lean more toward the martial world, but some things require a high position. Vermin like th
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1769
Under the shroud of midnight, a sleek black SUV screeched to a sudden stop at the Vern residence. The car door swung open, tossing out a weighty burlap sack saturated in blood, potentially containing a person."Hey! What the heck are you doing?" The guards stationed at the Vern residence entrance swiftly detected the anomaly and shouted at the vehicle.The black SUV roared to life, swiftly departing from the scene.The guards cautiously approached, nudging the sack with their feet. The burlap sack quivered, revealing a face stained with blood. It was Russo who was severely injured and hovering on the brink of death."H-Help ... S-Save me ... P-Please save me ..." Russo groaned, his life hanging by a thread.Upon closer scrutiny, the guards' expressions underwent a dramatic shift. "It's Mr. Russo! Quick, get him to the hospital!" Without hesitation, the guards rushed the critically injured Russo to the hospital for immediate attention.Soon, the entire Vern family was plunged
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Chapter 2533
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
Chapter 2532
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead
Chapter 2531
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern
Chapter 2530
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
Chapter 2529
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
Chapter 2528
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Chapter 2527
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
Chapter 2526
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Chapter 2525
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
